The Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has launched 12 specialized courts to cater for the myriad of small claims and debt recovery cases instituted in the District Courts across the country by individuals and companies. The courts, eight of which are in the Greater Accra Region and four in the Ashanti Region, would operate on a pilot basis to help adjudicate claims from these financial institutions and individuals.
This initiative was fueled by data obtained by the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Judicial Service in the performance of their duties for the Service. Quick Credit and Investment Micro-Credit Ltd now Bills Micro-Credit Ltd had filed a litany of cases for the recovery of debts in the lower courts.
To gain a deeper understanding of the situation, the Monitoring and Evaluation Department together with the Quality Assurance Unit sampled seven District Courts in Accra – Adenta District Court 1&2, Teshie District Court, Sowutuom District Court, Ashaiman District Court, Weija District Court and Gbese District Court to ascertain the quantum of claims filed in order to proffer a solution to the increasing caseload of the courts.
The number of active pending cases in the Adenta District Court 1&2 as of May 2024 was 773, out of which 120 were filed by Quick Credit & Investment Micro-credit Ltd representing 15% of the active pending cases. The data revealed that over 70% of cases filed by Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Ltd were for claims less than five thousand Ghana cedis (¢5000).
The Chairman of Quick Credit & Investment Micro- Credit now Bills Micro-Credit Mr. Richard Quaye indicated that the company had resorted to the court for the recovery of monies owed it by defaulters. The Company has filed 30,000 cases and hopes that its cases be given an expedited hearing. stated that the successful recovery of the claims would enable them to serve more Ghanaians.
Mr. Richard Quaye, Chairman of Bills Micro-Credit
He praised the response of the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo in tackling the matter at hand. “In response to this challenge, it is with great admiration and appreciation that I acknowledge the swift action under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in the establishment of the new small claims court which would greatly alleviate the burden on our judicial system ensuring cases are resolved more quickly and efficiently” Mr Quaye stated. He touched on the benefits of an expedited legal process and how its effects throw a positive light on the judicial system and financial institutions.
“An expedited legal process benefits everyone – creditors, debtors and wider community, by ensuring that financial disputes are resolved promptly thereby maintaining trust in the financial and judicial system and encouraging continued economic activity” he said.
The Chief Justice in her address, observed that the volume of the cases filed was affecting the already busy schedules of the courts and the operation
of the court shift system which was introduced by the Judicial Service in March this year. ‘These courts were already grappling with huge caseloads and were part of the court shift system to reduce backlog and hasten the pace of justice delivery in the country’.
The 12 designated courts within Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions would operate from 2pm to 8pm on working days and 8am-4pm on Saturdays. The schedule in the Greater Accra Region will have the District Court, Ashaiman, District Court, Teshie, District Court, Kasoa and District Court, La, operate on Saturdays and District Court, Weija, District Court, Sowutuom, District Court ‘2’, Adenta and District Court, Gbese operate on weekdays.
For the Ashanti Region, District Court ‘2’, Asokwa and District Court ‘1’, Prempeh Assembly Hall will operate on Saturdays, while Circuit Court ‘2’, Asokwa Circuit Court Conference Hall will operate on weekdays.
CJ Sackey Torkornoo in a group photo with officials of Bills Micro-Credit Ltd and the Judicial Service
The Chief Justice was optimistic that with the launch of the Small Claims Debt Recovery Courts and the cooperation of the citizens and institutions involved, the large volume of cases can be dealt with expeditiously. Although she stated that Quick Credit intended to file 55,000 cases, the designated courts were open to other financial institutions also. ‘It is a national asset open to all financial institutions to offer a quicker solution to the recovery of debts in order for the value of these monies not to decrease’.
She thanked Bills Micro-Credit Ltd for partnering the Judicial Service in this endeavour. “We commend Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Ltd for accepting to support the operation of these 12 pilot courts to enable them to perform their constitutional duty with speed and efficiency, just as SSNIT has supported the operation of the Saturday Court for years” the Chief Justice mentioned.
